Zona pellucida (ZP), a primarily representative coat of mammalian egg and embryo, has an extremely heterogeneous morphology during different developmental stages. The objective of the present study was to compare the morphological changes of the ZP surface of immature, in vitro and in vivo matured canine oocytes by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Canine ovaries were collected from local veterinary hospitals to recover immature oocytes. The ovaries were sliced and the released cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were washed with TL-HEPES. The selected COCs were randomly divided into two groups, first group was processed immediately at immature state and the second group was processed 72 h after in vitro maturation, and compared with in vivo derived oocytes. Oocytes were fixed, critical point dried and examined under SEM. The diameters of oocyte and outer holes of the ZP were measured on a total of 249 oocytes; the results were analyzed using One-way ANOVA. Our results showed that, the diameter of immature oocytes significantly differed (p < 0.05) from that of in vivo matured oocytes (79.60 ± 0.77 μm vs. 101.46 ± 1.07 μm, respectively). Similarly, a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the diameters between those of in vitro and in vivo matured oocytes were found (79.51 ± 2.36 μm vs. 101.46 ± 1.07 μm, respectively). Moreover, the diameters of the outer holes of the ZP were significantly (p < 0.05) larger in in vivo matured (1.48 ± 0.42 μm) than in vitro matured for 72 and immature oocytes (1.10 ± 0.16 and 0.43 ± 0.12 μm, respectively). Taken together, these data indicates that the ZP surface is related to oocyte maturity in canine.

To obtain in vivo matured oocytes for dog cloning, serum progesterone (P4) level were employed for ovulate determination. Radioactive immunoassay (RIA) is a traditional serum hormone assay method with highly radioactivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of RIA and to compare its canine serum P4 concentration determination accuracy to that of the electric chemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLI). To obtain in vivo matured oocytes for canine somatic cell nuclear transfer, serum P4 levels were accurately measured with both methods of RIA and ECLI. Although both methods detected similar P4 level before ovulation, the mean P4 concentration using ECLI was significantly higher than that using RIA from 3days before ovulation. Following ovulation, oocytes were collected by surgery, and a lower percentage of mature oocytes were observed using ECLI (39%) as compared to RIA (67%) if 4-8ng/ml of P4 were criteria for determination of ovulation. On other hand, high percentage of mature oocytes was observed using ECLI when 6–15 ng/mL of progesterone was criteria for ovulation determination. To determine whether in vivo oocytes obtained by ECLI method could be used for canine cloning, six canines were selected as oocyte donors and two puppies were produced after SCNT and embryo transfer. In conclusion, compared to the traditional RIA method, the ECLI method is a safe and reliable method for canine cloning.

Transducin-like enhancer protein 1(TLE-1) is protein associated with cell proliferation. This study analyzed change of TLE-1 mRNA expression during in vivo and in vitro maturation in porcine oocytes. Oocytes and granulose cells were collected from follicles of <2 mm, 2～6 mm and >6 mm in diameter in slaughtered pig’s ovaries. Oocytes collected from follicles of 2～6 mm in diameter were used after in vitro maturation for 0, 10, 20 and 44 h. Cumulus cells and granulose cells were collected after treatment with hyaluronidase. In results, TLE-1 mRNA expression in oocytes collected from follicle >6 mm in diameter is increased, TLE-1 RNA expression in cumulus cells and granulosa cells from follicles <2 mm, 2 mm 6 mm and >6 mm in diameter. However, there is no significant difference. On the other hand, TLE-1 mRNA expression from oocytes cultured for 10 h and 44 h is increased, TLE-1 mRNA in cumulus cells cultured for 10 h is significant increased(p<0.05) than other culture periods. In conclusion, these results show that TLE-1 is expressed in all cell types of oocytes, cumulus cells and granulose cells, and associated with oocyte maturation.

본 연구는 동물복제 및 형질전환 동물생산 등의 연구에 기초자료를 제공하고자 재래산양의 oocyte를 단위발생을 유도하여 회수난자의 조건, 활성화방법, 배양조건 등이 단위발생란의 체외발달율에 미치는 영향을 조사하여 재래산 양의 최적의 배양조건을 확립하고자 실시하였다. 난자의 회수는 체중 15～25 Kg 전 ㆍ 후의 성숙한 미경산 재래산양에 FSH와 PMSG 를 사용하여 과배란을 유기하여 hCG 투여 후 제 35시간째에 외과적인 방법으로 in vivo (체내성숙) 난자는 난관을 관류하는 방법으로 회수하였고, in vitro (체외성숙) 난자는 난포로부터 흡입하여 난포란을 채취하여 약 22시간 체외성숙을 실시하였다. 활성화 처리는 전기자극법과 Ionomycin + 6-DMAP를 처리하여 단위발생을 유도하였다. 복제수정란의 배양은 M16, TCM-199 및 mSOF 배양액으로 6～7일 동안 체외배양을 실시하였다. 활성화를 유도하기 위하여 전기자극 및 ionomycin + 6-DMAP 처리를 하였을 때 분할율은 각각 64.1 및 76.5%로서 이들간에 차이는 없었다. 배반포기로의 발달율은 전기자극방법으로는 전혀 발달이 이루어지지 않았으나, ionomycin +6-DMAP 처리방법에서는 15.6%가 배반포로 발달하였다. In vivo 난자와 in vitro 난자를 활성화를 유도하였을 때 분할율은 86.8 및 69.0%로서 이들간에 유의적인 차이는 없었다. 4-세포기(93.9% vs 66.1%), 8-세포기(90.9% vs 37.0%) 및 상실배기(89.4% vs 23.6%)는 이들간에 유의적(P<0.05)인 차이가 있었으며, 배반포기로의 발달율은 체내성숙난자가 50.0%로서 체외성숙난자의 0.8%보다는 유의적으로 높았다. 활성화를 유도한 난자를 mSOF 배양액으로 체외배양을 실시하였을 때 분할율은 81.0%로서 TCM-199 +oviduct cell 의 64.3% 및 Ml6 배양액의 51.6%보다는 높게 나타났다. 배반포기로의 발달율은 mSOF 배양액에서는 3.4%가 발달하였으나, TCM-199+ oviduct cell 배양액과 M16 배양액에서는 전혀 발달이 이루어지지 않았다. 이상의 결과는 포유동물 난자의 단위발생의 유도 및 체외배양시 난자의 공급원, 난자의 활성화 방법 및 배양조건 등이 차후 단위발생란의 체외발생율에 크게 영향을 미칠 수 있는 근거를 제시해 준다.

본 실험에서는 수술적 방법을 이용하여 난관 절제술을 실시한 성숙 난자의 회수율과 카데터를 이용한 난자 회수율 그리고 새롭게 고안된 개 난자 회수용 니들을 이용한 회수율을 비교하였으며, 각각의 회수 방법이 성숙난자의 외형에 미치는 영향을 조사한 결과는 12두에서 난관절제술로 채취한 성숙난자의 회수율은 89.7% 이었다. 수술적 회수방법에서는 본 연구실에서 개발한 난자 회수용 니들을 난관내에 삽입-결찰한 후 난관-자궁 접합부에서 난자 회수용 배지를 관류하는